Yielding checkrein device.



PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

W. J. ARMSTRONG. YIELDING GHECKREIN DEV-ICE.

APPLICATION-FILED JULY 19; 1907.

IIVVEJVTORv BY dk ma WWW/Q 4% ATTORNEY.

summon. n. c.

WILLIAM JAMES ARMSTRONG, OF PATEESON, NEW JERSEY.

YIE LDING CHECKREIN DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed July 19,1907. erial No. 384,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM JAMES Aims/mono, a subject of Edward VII, King of Great Britain, &c., residing at 100 East 'lwcnly-eighth street, Paterson, in the county of lassaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yielding hechrein Devices, 01' which the iollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invcutionis to provide a checking device [or horses that will act as a yielding support ior the horses head, and that will be simple, durable and inexpensive, and that may be adjusted with facility.

In devices of this class the object has been to tourporarily permit a horse to lower his head by releasing a locked device, and the object of my invention is to provide a device that will be strong enough to support a horses head and at the same time be a permanently yielding support, permitting the horse to lower its head if required in emergencies that may arise.

The further object of my invention is to construct a yielding support so that the yielding character of the same may be lessened or strengthened as the occasion requires without much dilliculty.

These objects are accomplished by the device illustratcd in the drawings.

Figure -1- shows a side elevation of my device; Fig. 2 an end thereoi; Fig. -3- a drum and spring connecting the drum and the winding axle, also the strap secured to the spring and wound about the drum; and Fig. 'lis a sectional view of the same.

In the drawings -l-- is a stand, frame, or support provided with a rectangular opening and having a shank -2 with a screw threaded portion 3- which may be secured to the saddle by a nut as shown in Figs. -1 and 2-.

The winding-axle l is mounted in the arms of the stand or iraine -1- and is secured in position therein by means of the screw *6- which passes through an openiu g l"- at the end of the axle.

The screw -6- is threaded only near its head and the other end portion -7- is not threaded so that the screw passes through one side of the shoulder -8-, through the opening, -4- in the axle -4-, and into the other side of the shoulder -8- as shown in Fig. -l'-.

The winding-axle -lis provided the greater part of its length with a slot or opening -5 and at its opposite end with a slot -9- into which a screw driver may be inserted for the purpose of winding the spring -l2--.

l 1 i l l l l l l ing The interior 10- oi the drum -l.0 forms a spring box to hold said spring and is provided with a removable cover -1l-. The cover is provided with a lug -1I which fits into a recess -11 in the side of the drum. One end of the spring -12- is bent over forming a tongue or hook portion that enters the slot -5 in the winding axle -4- and the other end of the spring is bent over to form a hook -13- to engage the edge oi the slotted portion of the drum -10- adjacent to the point where the strap 15 is secured to the spring-12- by means of a rivet 14. The strap I5- is wound about the drum -10 and is provided with means -16- for engaging a check rein.

If the tension of the spring 12 requires adjustment the screw 6- is withdrawn and the windingaxle is turned with the use of a screw driver in either direction required, and when the desired tension is obtained the screw -6- is replaced and maintains that tension.'

The hook 16 or any similar engaging device is connected with the check rein and supports the horses head; but permits the horse a freedom of movement of the head, that the ordinary check rein does not allow, and which is necessary in many instances to avoid cruelty to the horse. When the horse lowers his head the strap -15- is unwound from the drum 10 and when it raises its head the tension of the spring actuates the drum and serves to return the strap into place around the same. The horse is thus able to use its head to balance itself as it was intended by nature to do in walking, trotting or running.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- In a checking device for horses, the combination of a frame having a rectangular opening therein, a split winding-axle mounted in the sides of said frame, provided with a slot in the head or closed end thereof, a transverse openthrough the other end thereof to receive a securing screw-pin for locking said axle against rotation, with a spring-actuated drum mounted to turn on said windingaxle within the rectangular opening in the frame, a removable cover for said drum, :1 spring inclosed in said drum and eoilcd about said winding-axle, the inner end of the spring constructed to enter and engage the split axle, the outer end of the spring; being hooked over the slotted portion of the drum, and a strap and hook secured to the outer end of said spring within the drum, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JAMES ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

CARRIE E. Blirsorr, .ToI-IN F. Kenn. 

